News Article Release

Midshipman Receives Hometown Humanitarian Service Award

September 27, 2012

By MC2 Alexia Riveracorrea

Midshipman 4th Class Zachary Dannelly recently received the Bell Award honoring outstanding volunteer citizens in his hometown of Louisville, Ky.

Dannelly was nominated for the award by his high school counselor for his leadership as a high school senior in raising $40,000 to build an orphanage in India.

Each year, ten adults and two high school students are given the Bell Award by the WLKY Spirit of Louisville Foundation for outstanding humanitarian service that best personifies the “spirit of Louisville.” This year’s recipients were selected from nearly 100 nominations.

“Volunteer service is something I truly enjoy,” said Dannelly. “I enjoy seeing how service projects change people’s lives. To be able to see the orphanage and the effects it’s already had is a truly humbling experience.”

Raising money for the project in India was a great teamwork experience, said Dannelly.

“Our school truly had to come together as a unit,” he said. “It was everybody leading in individual ways. We had people in charge of public relations, communications, fundraising, and organizing student groups. It was this team approach to achieving our goal that made it possible.”

Dannelly has a strong history of community service. During his freshman year in high school, he traveled to Mexico with a team from his church to build houses for a Christian refugee camp. The following year, he was in the Dominican Republic helping to organize a dramatic arts event for the local community.

“That was a unique opportunity. Through drama we were able to connect with people on a personal basis,” he said. “It showed that you don’t need special skills or materials to serve. All you need to serve is yourself. Being available to help others is all you need to have an impact.”

The professional development at the Naval Academy is helping him further develop his own sense of service, he said.

“The Naval Academy is an amazing place,” he said. “One of the things that drew me to the academy at first was its core tenant of service to the nation. That is truly what we’re doing each and every day. As we learn, as we study, as we exercise - everything we’re doing is to better ourselves so we can better serve the American people.”

Dannelly encouraged students seeking out volunteer opportunities to always put others before themselves.

“The best way to grow and achieve your goals is to focus on others. Whenever you seek to do service, that should be your number one goal - not personal gain, not fame but to help others,” he said.

The 2012 WLKY Bell Awards is celebrating 35 years of honoring outstanding volunteers and has earned the reputation of being the most prestigious local award for volunteer service. The event is supported by numerous corporations and organizations with nearly 1,000 citizens in attendance each year.

Last year Naval Academy midshipmen volunteered more than 21,000 hours to the community through the Midshipmen Action Group.